3 Risks Kansas City Patients Take When They Seek Medical Treatment Abroad

There are many reasons to travel to a foreign country. You may be traveling to experience a different culture, to sightsee, or for a medical procedure. The concept of medical tourism is not new. Each year, many Americans seek treatment in a different country for a variety of reasons. For example, sometimes, treatments cost significantly less abroad than they do in the United States, and sometimes there are treatments available abroad that do not have FDA approval for use within the United States. However, before you decide to seek medical treatment in another country, our Kansas City medical malpractice lawyers want you to know about your risks.

What You Need to Know Before You Board the Plane

When you consent to medical treatment in any country other than the United States, you:

Leave the standards of care set in the United States. Different countries have different standards of medical care.

May receive medication that did not go through the FDA approval process. Prescription drugs must go through the approval process set in the country where you are obtaining treatment. That process may be different than the process for approving drugs in the United States.

May lose the right to sue for medical malpractice or to recover damages for medical malpractice. In some cases, you may not have the same protections against medical malpractice injuries that you have in the United States.

Do You Think You May Have A Medical Malpractice Claim?

If you believe you may have a medical malpractice claim you need to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Please contact us online or call our Kansas City office directly at 816.471.5111 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.